5) Multi-published author Monica Burns has a new release, ASSASSIN’S HEART, and she has redesigned her website.

Monica also answered a few questions for me:

1) What of the five senses do you tap into most when you’re writing?

Let me think. Since I try really hard to use all the senses in scenes, I don’t know that I can say I use one more than the other. Maybe sense of smell….no I use taste in the same way I use smell. Hmm…I don’t really think I favor one over the other. Now someone who reads my stuff might say different.

Casting my books, there is NO way I know how to answer that because I don’t usually base my characters off of actors, I generally see a unknown model and think…oh that’s Ares. Or Oh, that’s Lysander. The only actor I ever saw as a character was Altair in Mirage. Oded Fehr from The Mummy was my inspiration appearance wise. Now I can say that Cleo in Book 3 of the Order of the Sicari series is a mix between Elizabeth Taylor and Monica Belluci. Stunningly beautiful and yet acts like an alpha male, mannerisms and all.

COMING UP SOON: An interview with KERI FORD, who just sold her first two books!

Addison and I were both caught up in deadlines, conferences and – in my case – a wedding, so I apologize for the late posting of this interview.

I discovered Addison’s books this year and was lucky enough to meet her in New York a few months back. We hung out and talked over a drink or two – I wish we’d had more time, because she was SOOOO much fun! She’s a fabulous author, too.

Without further ado, here’s the long-awaited interview!

(This photo was taken at Addison’s first book signing

at the NOLA Stars conference in March 2010.)

Anya: Tell us about yourself! How long have you been writing, and what are you working on now?

Addison: Thank you for having me!I’ve been writing since 1997. However, I joined RWA in 2002 and that’s when I believe I “got serious” about working actively on my writing, on developing my craft and working toward the goal of publication.

I just finished WARRIOR BETRAYED, the third book in the Sons of the Zodiac series (Quinn, my Taurus’s story) and I’m going to begin working on a new series next.

I’m so excited to announce that while I am still working on my Zodiac series, I also sold a contemporary trilogy to NAL set in Alaska. The first book – THE BACHELOR GAME – is my next project!

Anya: WARRIOR ASCENDED was released in March and WARRIOR AVENGED comes out in September. Both of these books are in your “Sons of the Zodiac” series. Tell us about that, and what other books we can look forward to in this series.

Addison: The Sons of the Zodiac are a band of warriors, created by the Greek goddess of justice, Themis, in her Great Agreement with Zeus. The warriors are evenly balanced, with the heavens as inspiration for each warriors’ personality and gifts.

Themis has a love for humanity and she believes humans need protection, which is why she created the warriors. However, as part of the bargain, Zeus has counterbalanced them with his daughter, the goddess of war, Enyo.

What’s been so much fun for me with this series is that while the astrology aspects are a lot of fun, so are the elements of Greek mythology that make up a lot of the background for modern western astrology. The myths have provided an incredibly rich canvas for creating my characters, their stories and the world they live in.

As I mentioned above, I just turned in Quinn’s book, WARRIOR BETRAYED, and I’m working up the proposal for the fourth in the series.

Anya: I’m looking forward to the third and fourth books in this series!

We met recently in New York, but that’s not where you come from originally. Can you tell us about your cross-country moves?

Addison: I’m originally from the northeast, but moved around growing up for my father’s job. We moved back to the northeast shortly before I started college and I then went to college in New York and started my career in New York.

Clearly, the moving bug bit me, too, and after a few years in New York, I had an opportunity in Dallas that I moved for. I’ve been there for the past 13 years and just moved back to New York City in January of this year.

Anya: I wish I’d known you before this year – I have friends and family in Dallas. (And our mutual friend Kay Thomas lives out that way, too!)

Tell us about your interests and activities in your “real” life!

Addison: Oh goodness, well, the first few answers are incredibly easy – I LOVE to read and I thoroughly enjoy spending time with family and friends. I’m also a huge wine lover. I think there is something so enjoyable about relaxing with family and/or friends over a glass of wine, or – as you know – getting to know someone new over a glass!

Anya: Who are some of your favorite authors, and what are some of your favorite books? (For example, if you could only keep five books, what would they be?)

If we’re talking keepers….this is a toughie because I love so many books and authors! But if I had to narrow it down to five, I’d say PARADISE by Judith McNaught, HIDDEN RICHES by Nora Roberts, PERFECT PARTNERS by Jayne Ann Krentz, ICE STORM by Anne Stuart and this absolutely incredible SuperRomance I read years ago by Sandra Canfield called NIGHT INTO DAY.

I was in heaven this year at the RWA conference because Nora and Jayne were the two luncheon keynotes!!!

Anya: I used to read Nora Roberts when she first started writing, and I rediscovered her a few years ago. I have read every single book she’s written as Nora Roberts, and a lot of her J.D. Robb books. I LOVE Anne Stuart, and the Ice series is fabulous (so is her new book, RUTHLESS). I’ve read almost everything Jayne Ann Krentz has written, I have PARADISE in my TBR pile, and since we seem to share the same taste, I’ll keep an eye out for a copy of Sandra Canfield’s book – I’ve read several of hers, but not NIGHT AND DAY.

Still on the subject of books, which books/authors turned you on to romance?

Addison: I’ve been a life-long romance reader, starting with teen romances when I was in late grade school/early middle school. By late middle school I had already migrated to adult romances and never looked back.

Anya: What were some of your favorite books as a child? What books do you read to your kids now?

Addison: I loved absolutely everything by Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. I also went through all the “usual suspects” – The Westing Game, Harriet the Spy, all the Dr. Doolittles, etc. I’ve been an avid reader my entire life.

My mom has told the story for years – as a small child, before I could read on my own, she’d find me with a magazine on my lap, flipping the pages and “reading” as I told myself a story.

Anya: Those are all great books!

Would you share your “call” story with us?

Addison: The call actually came at work. It was the week before Thanksgiving and I had gotten an email from my agent in the morning asking me if I was going to be around later that day. She knew we were close and she thought an offer would come that day.

Of course, I immediately started calling and emailing my sister and the two of us squealed on the phone as we waited.

The call ended up coming around two that afternoon. I was in a meeting and I leaped on my phone the moment it rang and ran into the hallway. I still remember hiding behind a row of cubicles, desperate to hold it all in when all I really wanted to do was scream!!

Anya: *sigh* I love call stories! I think I would have given into the urge and let loose with that scream!

What have been some other important turning points in your life?

Addison: The writing has certainly been a huge one for me, but there have been so many others. The moving I’ve done throughout my life has always brought wonderful and amazing new people into my life. Moving as a child also had the added benefit of making me very close with my family which is just such a blessing.

What I find so awe-inspiring and humbling about those turning points in life is that you never know when one’s right around the corner!

Anya: I think it’s probably a good thing we don’t know what’s ahead, but in your case I’m sure we’ll be seeing your name on best seller lists!

Who are your hotties (in real life, fiction or TV/movies)?

Addison: For starters, I’ve loved the actor Anthony Michael Hall since I was 12 years old. I saw him in SIXTEEN CANDLES and my pre-teen heart simply melted. I’ve loved him ever since!

I also love the romance writers “cannon” of Butler, Craig and Clooney. Those three men just never go out of style!

I actually have a little secret I’ll share with you – I was on deadline for WARRIOR AVENGED and I had a chance to go to the Daniel Craig/Hugh Jackman play A STEADY RAIN. I had to pull a few all nighters in order to get the book in, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat! I mean, seriously – who needs sleep when you can have inspiration like THOSE TWO?!?!?!?!!!

Anya: Wait – I’m having palpitations. You saw them in person? I am soooo jealous!

Has your life changed since your first release came out in March? (Or have you written other books under other pen names?)

Addison: WARRIOR ASCENDED is my first book, so March was the first time I held my book in my hands. At the risk of giving away a little known trade secret, my day-to-day life really hasn’t changed all that much.

What has changed, though, is this incredible, amazing response I’ve had from the people in my life. They have been so excited and supportive of me – telling their friends, co-workers, in-laws, etc. It’s been such a neat feeling to know that there are so many people who are so supportive of this dream of mine. I am so humbled by the outpouring of good wishes that have come my way since selling a book.

Anya: I’d like to add a few more congratulations and good wishes of my own. Here’s to continued success!

Tell us a couple of little-known facts about yourself.

Addison: I’ve been to five continents (South America and Antarctica are the two I’ve not been to), I’ve gone skydiving and I’ve climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge twice.

Anya: I’m impressed – that’s a lot of traveling!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Addison: Well that changed on a pretty regular basis (I am a Gemini), but I did go through a pretty significant period when I told everyone I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. Why, I still have no idea since the thought of operating on someone gives me the shakes!

Anya: An orthopedic surgeon? I’m glad you decided to write instead!

Thanks very much for answering my nosy questions! I hope I’ll see you again soon – will you be at RWA National? (Sadly, I’ll miss it this year.)

Addison: It was so great to meet you and I’m sorry you weren’t able to go to National this year. But I definitely expect to see you the next time you’re in New York!!

Anya: I hope to see you there next July. I hope your books continue to rise in popularity so I can say I knew you when you started out! Thanks again for telling us about yourself.